Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colston Loveland vs James ConnerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Colston Loveland's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Conner is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, James Conner (11.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Colston Loveland (8.5 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEChicago Bears#16

Colston Loveland

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

713

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Colston Loveland

James Conner

Head to Head

8.5 PPG11.0 PPG

16 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Colston Loveland: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #16 at the position). James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Deep League) RB in most league formats.

Colston Loveland vs James Conner: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Colston Loveland (TE, Chicago Bears) against James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while James Conner posted 11.0 PPG across 14 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Colston Loveland has his bye in Week 10, James Conner in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Colston Loveland (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Colston Loveland by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Colston Loveland played 16 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Colston Loveland contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Colston Loveland scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colston Loveland vs James Conner: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colston Loveland	James Conner
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	11.0
Games Played	16	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	154
Rushing Yards	-2	752
Rush Yds/Game	-0.1	53.7
Rushing TDs	0	5
Receptions	58	28
Receiving Yards	713	218
Targets	82	0
Total TDs	6	6
Age	22	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, James Conner holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.0 points per game. Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colston Loveland or James Conner in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Colston Loveland's 8.5 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Colston Loveland and James Conner average in 2025?▾

Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Colston Loveland and James Conner's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Colston Loveland (CHI) has a bye in Week 10, and James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.